Self closing container



Nov. 12, 1963 A. J. ANTONIUS 3,110,335

SELF CLOSING CONTAINER Filed June 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l ANTHONY J. ANTON/00$ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1963 A. J. ANTONIUS SELF CLOSING CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2-0, 1960 iii 7 a 0 a o 6 H jfluwm awn 4 6 E n a 6 \2 3/ 6 4 a a e 4 4 3 m m E m /IMv I 2 g 7/6 6 MI 4\ 7 l "a 4 2 m. F

ANTHONY J. ANTON/GUS INVENTOR.

Nov. 12, 1963 A. J. ANTONIUS SELF CLOSING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, 1960 INVEN TOR.

44mm 5 M ATTORNEY ANTHONY J. ANTON/GUS FIG. II

FIG. /2.

United States Patent 3,110,335 SELF CLGSKNG CGNTAINER Anthony J. Antonius, 36128 Cedar Drive, Baitimoro, Md, assignor of one-half to Lafayette L. Pier-pent, Baitimore, Md.

Fiied June 29, 196i tier. No. 37,379 11 Claims. (Cl. 150-42) This invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly it pertains to a self-closing container adapted to enclose a second container and form a casing or shell about the latter.

In conventional types of containers employed for hol ing cigarette packages or the like within the confines of their walls, the containers are usually large enough to hold the packages easily and are open at one end and closed over the other end thereof by movable caps. In some other type containers, such as a tobacco pouch, the latter is provided usually with a zipper arrangement to close the open end thereof but it too must be closed manually.

While these constructions of containers are effective, they employ mechanical contrivances that require the use of both hands of the user to operate them. In addition, the operating parts extend out from the containers, requiring added room and more or less interfering with the accessibility to the items in the inner packages. In addition, these conventional containers are not self closing and sealing of the openings therefor.

In some of the prior art outside containers, hinged caps can be used to close the containers, while in still others, zippers, as pointed out above, are utilized. In some types of containers, pull cords are used to close the apertures or openings of the containers, where the containers are formed of fabric. All of these containers allow the stored products, such as tobacco, to dry out and ofier little actual storage protection thereto.

it is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a self-closing and sealing container for use in storing articles of various types, such as a cigarette package, safety razor blades, bobbie pins, curlers, chewing gum, confectionery or other items commonly stored in small packages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved casing or container for holding small packaged items in which the opening portal is manipulated through the squeezing of its body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved outer container for holding small packages which has a mouth or entrance portal openable by squeezing the sides of the container.

Still even a further ob'ect of this invention is to provide a new and improved outer container for holding small packages which can have its mouth portal or entrance thereto opened and closed readily with one hand of the user thereof.

And, additional objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved outer container for holding and protecting a small package so that the latter will be held securely to form a neat covering for a small package and to serve as a convenient housing for holding packaged ems and to provide for the easy removal of the contents of the package.

Also, another obiect of this invention is to provide apparatus, including the die arrangement and the technique for forming the novel storage containers incorporating features of this invention.

These and other obiects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of a 3,119,335 Patented Nov. 12, 1963 self-closing container incorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male die for forming the self-closing container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the male die of FIG. 2, with parts removed to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of the die arrangement with the container in position between the male and female dies;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section similar to FIG. 4 of the die arrangement, but with the male die lowered with respect to the female die and the spacer block withdrawn from between the spaced knife edges of the male die;

MG. 6 is a cross section similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the die arrangement with the spaced knife edges of the male die withdrawn from the lip forming side bulges of the container;

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line 8-8 of PEG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a die for forming the upper body of a container of FIG. 10;

PEG. 10 is a vertical cross section taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 11, of a portion of the upper body of a second embodiment of the container incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the lips are snapped shut by improved fasteners;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the container of FIG. 11 in opened condition illustrating the method of separating the lip-closing means by the fingers of the operator without crushing the contents of the container;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation, partly in section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13, that is, a top plan view of a modified container; and

FIG. 16 is a cross section taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention which consists of a hollow container 16 of substantially rectangular cross section incorporating features of the present invention. This container 1%} consists of a rectangular shaped upper body 12, and a corresponding rectangular shaped lower body 14 of reduced dimensions arranged to be inserted in the open lower end of the upper body 12.

The hollow container 10 is formed of flexible and resilient material, such as semi-hard rubber or plastic material of a similar nature, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl or equivalent materials, and is generally of quasirectangular contour as shown. The upper body 12 of the container 10 is provided with an orifice, portal 5r aperture across practically the entire width of the container 16 between a pair of spaced lips 16 which terminate in lip deforming side bulges 18. In the container shown in FIG. 1, the lips 16 are locked in position by male and female lip snaps 2t) and 22 which will be described subsequently.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 8 of the drawings, there are indicated male and female dies 30 and 32, respectively, for forming the upper body 12 of the container 10. The female die 32. consists of a female die top member 34, shown best in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, two spaced female die side members 36 shown best in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8, two spaced female die front and back members 38 shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8, and a female die bottom member 40 shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The male die 30, illustrated best in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, consists of a pair of parallel arranged spaced side plates 42, having a pair of laterally spaced sliding members 52 positioned therebetween as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

A spacer block 44 is also positioned between the side plates 42, and it is located below the sliding members 52.

' Dowels 46 are passed through the side plates 42 and the spacer block 44, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, so as to make the side plates 42 and the spacer block 44 one integral structure.

At the upper ends of the side plates 42, there is provided a centrally positioned bridge 48, which is located between the side plates 42 and secured thereto by a pair of dowels 50 so as to be integral and movetherewith, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. This bridge 48 is of constant width at its bottom part, and it terminates at its upper part in a knife edge 64 of substantially the same length as the lower part of the bridge 48, but of considerable reduced width. Bridge 48 is provided with a dimple or bulb 74 on the knife edge 64 which forms male and female snaps 20 and 22, respectively, on lips 16 of the container 10 when it is formed by the dies 30 and 32, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 7.

A pair of spaced sliding knife edges 62 corresponding in cross section to knife edge 64 of the bridge 48 are provided on opposite sides of the bridge and in alignment therewith. These sliding knife edges 62 are formed integral with the upper ends of the sliding members 52, as shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, and they are utilized, together with the knife edge 64, to form the lips 16 of the container 10. Knife edges 62 as well as knife edge 64 are provided with sloping end surfaces 66 and 68, respectively, as shown best in FIGS. and 6, to assist in forming the edges of the lips 16 of the container 10. A slot 72 is provided in the top members 34 of the female die 32 to receive the knife edges 62 and 64, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

At the outer edge of each knife edge 62, there is pro vided a boattail 70 for forming the bulges 13 in the container as shown best in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, to give added strength, flexibility, and resilience, to the container 16 at these areas at the ends of the lips 16 of the upper container body 12.

V The sliding members 52 are provided with recesses 54 to clear the bridge 48 when the sliding members 52 move toward each other as will be explained subsequently, and as shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Each sliding member 52, in addition, is provided with a vertically extending cam slot 56, having a sloping portion 58. These sloping portions 58 of the cam slots 56 in the two sliding members 52 run downwardly and outwardly to the opposite sides of the male die 30, as shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. A cam following dowel 6%) is provided for each cam slot 56, and these dowels 69 are secured to and pass through the side plates 42, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7.

Milled circular slots 86 are provided in the side plates 42 of the male die 30 to provide clearance fora T-sh-aped latching head 80 of a pull-rod 76, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. This pull-rod 76 has a reduced end 78 which passes through the spacer block 44. A pin 82 is used to secure the T-shaped latching head 80 to the upper end of the pull-rod 76, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7.

The sliding members 52 each have a notch 84 provided therein and oppositely located to receive edges of the T- shaped latching head 80 when the male die 30 is in an operative position, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to securely lock the parts of the male die in position with respect to the female die so that the upper body 12 of the container 10 can be formed.

Referring now to FIGS. 10, 12, and 14, there is shown a second embodiment of the upper body 12 of the con- 4 tainer in which the lips 16 are formedwith a continuous tongue 83 and a mating groove 20 throughout the width of the upper body 12 for effecting a positive seal between the lips 16. The lip deforming side bulges 18 are provided on opposite sides of the upper body 12 to prevent the contents of the container 10 from being crushed when the pressure of the finger tips of a user is released. The knife edges 62 and 64 for forming the lips 16 with the mating tongue 38 and groove have a corresponding tongue and groove formed therein which are arranged in alignment when the knife edges 62 and 64 are in the position shown in FIG. 9.

In order to form the upper body 12 of the container 10, the male and female dies 30 and 32, respectively, are positioned as shown in FIG. 4, and the material for the body 12 in either liquid or semi-liquid form is introduced under pressure and heat into the space between the dies 30 and 32 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7. The material used to form the container upper body 112 is preferably of polyethylene or polyvinyl.

After the material for the body 1 2 has solidified or hardened, the pull-rod 76 is turned to release the T-shaped latching head 80 from the notches 84 in the sliding members 52. 7

When the pull-rod 76 is moved downwardly as shown in FIG. 5, the side plates 42 likewise move downwardly and withdraw the bridge 48 with its knife edge 64 from between the spaced knife edges 62 and into the recesses 54 of the sliding members 52. In the meantime, the dowels 60 have moved vertically downwardly in the slots '56 of the sliding members 52.

When the pull-rod 76 is pulled still further downwardly as shown in FIG. 6, the dowels 60 cause the sliding members 52 to cam inwardly toward each other, and thus withdraw the spaced knife edges 62 from the strengthening bulges 18 formed in the upper body 12 of the container 10. The top members 34, side members 36, front and back members '38, and bottom member 40 of the female die can now be removed, and then the male die 30 withdrawn from the upper body 12 of the container 10 to give a finished product as shown in FIG. 1.

The upper body 12 of the container 10 with the continuous tongue and groove formed in the lips 16, as shown in FIG. 10, can be formed in a similar manner, with slight modifications to the male die 30.

The operation of the container 10 will now be explained. With the upper body 12 separated from the lower body 14, an article, such as a package of cigarettes, is inserted in the lower body 14, whose upper end is open. The upper body r12 is then placed over the lower body '14 of the container 16 as shown in FIG. 1. When a cigarette is to be withdrawn from the container 1%, pressure is applied to the sides thereof by the fingers of the hand as shown in FIG. 1, or in a similar manner to the sides of the container shown in FIG. 10, to cause the lips 16 to move first outwardly and then upwardly. After the cigarette has been removed the lips 16 then move back together due to the resiliency of the material of the container and the strength and rigidity provided by the bulges 18 of the upper body 12 of the container 10. These bulges 18 in addition to the above, prevent the cigarettes or articles in the container from being crushed under pressure from the fingers. The container 10 is so designed that the lips '16 first open outwardly and then upwardly to form the opening at the top of the body :12. The lips 16 seal off the opening or portal therebetween and preventmoisture,

or the like, from entering into the container 10'.

When the opening or portal between the lips 16 is closed, the form of the lips enables their contacting surfaces to interlock and make an airtight closure.

It is of considerable convenience to the user to be able to manipulate the container 16 with one hand only. The avoidance of any visible mechanism to operate the container 10 lessens the possibility of trouble of breakage in the operation of opening and closing of the container.

The main purpose of the container is to protect the package with its contents inserted in it against damage and provide an attractive covering for it.

in the case of a package of cigarettes, this is particularly important, and when one or two of the cigarettes are removed, the walls of the package being only partly supported, tend to collapse and look unslightly, as well as injure the remaining cigarettes. Other items, packages and contents that may be used in the casing are similarly protected by it due to the added strength of the bulges 18.

There are a number of forms in which the container 10 can be manufactured, since the materials available and suitable, ofier considerable choice. The containers '10 can be made of a transparent nature, or made beautifully colored, depending on the anticipated preferences of the users to be attracted in buying and using them. The materials for making the containers '10, which are preferably of a plastic nature as indicated previously, are generally waterproof, and can be varied in rigidity of flexibility to suit any requirement. By varying the tensile strength of the material or materials forming the lips 16 of the upper body 12 to make it self closing, a container is obtained which is effective for storing articles and keeping them dry.

It is also to be noted that the lower body 14 of the container 1i) can be formed with spaced, peripheral ridges around the outer surface thereof for engaging in mating spaced grooves formed in the periphery of the interior of the upper body =12 to hold the two parts together and to accommodate cigarette packages or articles of different lengths.

As shown in FEGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the fastening of the lips may be improved by the provision of an alternate to the dimple type snaps and 22 in the form of a line contact snap arrangement consisting of a male snap 92 and a female snap 94 both of elongated shape placed vertically across the centers of the lips 16.

In another embodiment of the invention, the lips 16 of the container 10 are aided in snapping closed by the employment of magnetic means. The opposed surfaces of the lips 16 whether contoured, serrated or planar may be magnetized to bring about a closer, tighter seal than other- Wise possible. For this purpose the magnetic effect may be accomplished by embedding magnets and iron or steel strips 116, as shown in FIGS. .15 and 16, in opposite lips 16, respectively. When the pressure against the bulges 18 is released the lips 16 of the open container 10 close with a decisive snap under the magnetic attraction of magnets or steel strips 116.

The magnetic efiect may also be accomplished by embedding small magnetized particles of ferrous material within the opposing lips '16 to provide for continued flexiility thereof as will occur to those skilled in the art.

While but two general forms of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to these particnlm forms, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick opening and self closing container for small packaged articles, said container being of substantially rectangular cross-section and having a protruding throat portion at one of its ends extending crosswise thereof, and

a thickened bulge portion of boattail construction at 0pposite sides of said mroat portion, said throat portion having a pair of longitudinal normally closed lips forming a slit extending through the thickness of the material of said throat portion, said slit, when opened, affording access to the interior of said container, the material of said throat portion being inherently flexible and resilient, whereby said slit opens outwardly and upwardly in response to pressure applied lengthwise of said slit by fingers of one hand of the user and said slit closes due to the in herent flexibility of said material and the release of said pressure of the hand.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of two mating parts, one of which is integral with the throat portion, and means between said parts for interlocking said parts.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slit is bounded by opposed lips provided with cooperating interengaging means to insure tightness when said slit is closed.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slit is formed with a continuous tongue and a mating groove throughout the width thereof.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1, and additionally wherein said lips forming said slit is formed with a line contact snap arrangement.

6. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein opposed surfaces of said lips forming said slit are magnetized.

7. A container as set forth in claim 1, and magnetic means in said lips for drawing them together.

8. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of polyethylene.

9. A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of poly-vinyl compound.

10. A container as recited in claim 3, wherein said cooperating iriterengaging means comprises male and female snaps.

11. A container as recited in claim 3, wherein said cooperating interengaging means comprises a tongue and groove for the tongue arranged in the lips and running throughout the width of said slit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,166 Stiller June 12, 1956 820,067 Richardson May 8, 1906 1,273,264 Moran July 23, 1918 1,450,674 Marston Apr. 3, 1923 1,685,765 Mangan Sept. 25, 1928 2,278,088 Nelson Mar. 31, 1942 2,313,485 Stiller Mar. 9, 1943 2,420,031 Cohn May 6, 1947 2,514,750 Dobbs et al. July 11, 1950 2,519,290 Saltz Aug. 15, 1950 2,520,467 Merralls Aug. 29, 1950 r 2,602,190 Hein et a1. July 8, 1952 2,607,080 Stewart Aug. 19, 1952 2,633,603 Huse Apr. 7, 1953 2,666,466 Sharat Jan. 19, 1954 2,674,289 Silverman Apr. 6, 1954 2,730,766 Tompkins Jan. 17, 1956 2,754,865 Moore July 17, 1956 2,909,203 Reaves Get. 20, 1959 

1. A QUICK OPENING AND SELF CLOSING CONTAINER FOR SMALL PACKAGED ARTICLES, SAID CONTAINER BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION AND HAVING A PROTRUDING THROAT PORTION AT ONE OF ITS ENDS EXTENDING CROSSWISE THEREOF, AND A THICKENED BULGE PORTION OF BOATTAIL CONSTRUCTION AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID THROAT PORTION, SAID THROAT PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL NORMALLY CLOSED LIPS FORMING A SLIT EXTENDING THROUGH THE THICKNESS OF THE MATERIAL OF SAID THROAT PORTION, SAID SLIT, WHEN OPENED, AFFORDING ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER, THE MATERIAL OF SAID THROAT PORTION BEING INHERENTLY FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT, WHEREBY SAID SLIT OPENS OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE APPLIED LENGTHWISE OF SAID SLIT BY FINGERS OF ONE HAND OF THE USER AND SAID SLIT CLOSES DUE TO THE INHERENT FLEXIBILITY OF SAID MATERIAL AND THE RELEASE OF SAID PRESSURE OF THE HAND. 